BIRD WALK OPTIONS
Below are the different bird walk options. All walks depart within a 5km radius of St Lucia.
IGWALAGWALA Forest TRAIL
The Igwalagwala trail is a beautiful forest trail close to St Lucia which takes its name from the Zulu word for ‘Turaco’. Igwalagwala in Zulu means ‘the coward’ and stems from the Turacos’ habit of nervously hopping along the branches, away from any disturbance or perceived threat. Livingstones turaco abound in the forest and their hoarse calls can be heard reverberating through the forest canopy. Often a flash of their vivid red flight feathers give away their presence as they fly to a nearby tree. This is the best trail to see many of the areas forest specials. Mixed species bird parties are characteristic of coastal forest and can easily be located by the cacophony of bird calls and frenzied activity in the trees. Bird parties often include Rudds apalis, Woodward batis, Yellow-rumped tinkerbird, Olive sunbird, Collared sunbird, Dark-backed weaver, Square-tailed drongo, Yellow-bellied greenbul, Green-backed camaroptera, Terrestrial brownbul and Blue-mantled crested flycatcher. Fruiting trees in the forest, such as the magnificent Large-leaved fig (Ficus lutea), usually attract Trumpeter hornbill, Green pigeon, Black-bellied starling, Purple-crested turaco and White-eared barbet. Red-capped Robin-chat , Brown scrub-robin, Spotted ground-thrush (winter) and White-starred robin (winter) are often found hopping around on the forest path, whilst Green twinspot, Grey waxbill, Pink-throated twinspot and Red-backed mannikin are often seen feeding in the short grass on the path edges. Forest clearings with dappled light attract Lemon dove and Tambourine dove whilst Ashy flycatcher, Dusky flycatcher and African-paradise flycatcher can also be seen busily hawking insects in these clearings. African goshawk are the main raptor in these forests and can often be seen soaring overhead doing their characteristic display flight whilst African harrier-hawk are often seen trying to raid other birds’ nests. The dense undergrowth of this forest provides excellent habitat for Buff-spotted flufftail which are seen regularly on our walks. Igwalagwala trail is also a good place to look for the elusive and much sought-after Narina trogon, Green malkoha , Gorgeous bush-shrike and Scalythroated honeyguide. This trail covers easy, flat walking terrain so no real fitness is required.
Wetlands/Forest/Grassland walk
This diverse walk passes through a mosaic of forest, wetlands, coastal grassland and Waterberry/Wild date palm savanna.
Dune forest sections of the walk are a good place to look for the elusive Narina trogon. Sightings of this beautiful bird are very consistent in the breeding season when their soft, hoarse hoots give away their presence. Other possible specials in the dune forest include Green malkoha, African broadbill (summer), African emerald cuckoo, Livingstone's turaco, Olive bush-shrike, Woodwards batis, Green-backed camaroptera, Blue-mantled crested flycatcher, Ashy flycatcher, White-eared barbet, Green twinspot, Grey waxbill, Rudds’ apalis, Tambourine dove, Brown scrub-robin, Eastern nicator , Dark-backed weaver , Black-bellied starling and Scaly-throated honeyguide. The harsh, raccous calls of Square-tailed drongos and loud snapping calls of the Green-backed camaroptera often advertise the presence of mixed species bird parties which often include many of the above-mentioned species. Forest edge on the walk is good for Crested guineafowl, Crowned hornbill, African paradise-flycatcher , Dusky flycatcher, Brown-hooded kingfisher, Thick-billed weaver and Yellow-breasted apalis whilst flowering Coral trees, Tree fuschia and Cape Honeysuckle attract Olive sunbird, Grey sunbird, Purple-banded sunbird, Collared sunbird and Scarlet-chested sunbird.
The coastal grasslands are home to a completely different array of birds. The deep, frog-like, ‘prrrp’ call of the Croaking cisticola and ‘Trill-treeooo’ of the Rufous-naped lark are characteristic sounds in the grassland areas during summer. Beautiful Yellow-throated longclaws cling to grass stalks alongside the trail whilst Blue-cheeked bee-eater (summer), Red-breasted swallow, Black saw-wing and Barn swallow (summer) hawk insects overhead. The grasslands are also very productive for raptors such as Amur falcon (summer), Brown snake-eagle, Black-chested snake-eagle, European Honey-buzzard (summer) and Martial eagle which are often seen soaring overhead. A pair of Palmnut vultures nest in the area and can sometimes be seen flying overhead. Black-rumped buttonquail and Kurrichane buttonquail are sometimes flushed in the grassland and in summer months the rare Corn crake has been seen on a number of ocassions.
Seasonal pans in the wetland areas can be good for waterbirds such as African pygmy-goose, White-backed duck,, African Jacana, Lesser jacana (rare), White-faced whistling duck, Lesser moorhen (wet years), Wooly-necked stork, African spoonbill, Red-billed teal, Intermediate egret and Spurwinged goose. Short grassy areas and sedge surrounding the pans often hold Collared pratincole, Senegal lapwing (winter) and Pale-crowned cisticola (winter) and Rufous-winged cisticola. European rollers (summer), Little bee-eater, Scarlet-chested sunbird, Brimstone canary and Burchell's coucal are found in the Waterberry/Wild date palm savanna areas. The walking terrain is gently undulating but easy.
Dune forest sections of the walk are a good place to look for the elusive Narina trogon. Sightings of this beautiful bird are very consistent in the breeding season when their soft, hoarse hoots give away their presence. Other possible specials in the dune forest include Green malkoha, African broadbill (summer), African emerald cuckoo, Livingstone's turaco, Olive bush-shrike, Woodwards batis, Green-backed camaroptera, Blue-mantled crested flycatcher, Ashy flycatcher, White-eared barbet, Green twinspot, Grey waxbill, Rudds’ apalis, Tambourine dove, Brown scrub-robin, Eastern nicator , Dark-backed weaver , Black-bellied starling and Scaly-throated honeyguide. The harsh, raccous calls of Square-tailed drongos and loud snapping calls of the Green-backed camaroptera often advertise the presence of mixed species bird parties which often include many of the above-mentioned species. Forest edge on the walk is good for Crested guineafowl, Crowned hornbill, African paradise-flycatcher , Dusky flycatcher, Brown-hooded kingfisher, Thick-billed weaver and Yellow-breasted apalis whilst flowering Coral trees, Tree fuschia and Cape Honeysuckle attract Olive sunbird, Grey sunbird, Purple-banded sunbird, Collared sunbird and Scarlet-chested sunbird.
The coastal grasslands are home to a completely different array of birds. The deep, frog-like, ‘prrrp’ call of the Croaking cisticola and ‘Trill-treeooo’ of the Rufous-naped lark are characteristic sounds in the grassland areas during summer. Beautiful Yellow-throated longclaws cling to grass stalks alongside the trail whilst Blue-cheeked bee-eater (summer), Red-breasted swallow, Black saw-wing and Barn swallow (summer) hawk insects overhead. The grasslands are also very productive for raptors such as Amur falcon (summer), Brown snake-eagle, Black-chested snake-eagle, European Honey-buzzard (summer) and Martial eagle which are often seen soaring overhead. A pair of Palmnut vultures nest in the area and can sometimes be seen flying overhead. Black-rumped buttonquail and Kurrichane buttonquail are sometimes flushed in the grassland and in summer months the rare Corn crake has been seen on a number of ocassions.
Seasonal pans in the wetland areas can be good for waterbirds such as African pygmy-goose, White-backed duck,, African Jacana, Lesser jacana (rare), White-faced whistling duck, Lesser moorhen (wet years), Wooly-necked stork, African spoonbill, Red-billed teal, Intermediate egret and Spurwinged goose. Short grassy areas and sedge surrounding the pans often hold Collared pratincole, Senegal lapwing (winter) and Pale-crowned cisticola (winter) and Rufous-winged cisticola. European rollers (summer), Little bee-eater, Scarlet-chested sunbird, Brimstone canary and Burchell's coucal are found in the Waterberry/Wild date palm savanna areas. The walking terrain is gently undulating but easy.
ESTUARY/Beach Walk
This walk starts at the estuary boardwalk and follows the edge of the estuary to the beach and Lake St Lucia estuary mouth. Habitats covered on this walk include forest, Mangroves, Sand flats, Mud flats, beach and estuary. This walk is recommended for the summer months (November to March) when most of the Palearctic migrant waders will be present. The forest alongside the boardwalk is good for Rudds apalis, Crested guineafowl, Eastern golden (Yellow) weaver and Red-capped robin-chat. Reedbeds on the edge of the estuary host nesting Thick-billed weaver, Yellow weaver and Southern Brown-throated weaver in the summer months whilst the Lesser swamp-warbler can often be located in these reedbeds by its rich, fluty call. In the winter months the mangroves host the elusive Mangrove kingfisher and Pied, Giant and Malachite kingfishers can also be searched for all year round. The estuary is a dynamic area which is constantly changing due to fluctuating water levels. As such, the species present vary according to conditions. Regular waterbirds include Pink-backed pelican, Goliath heron, Purple heron, African Spoonbill, Great white egret, Black-winged stilt, Saddle-billed stork, White-faced whistling duck and Yellow-billed stork. Raptors are represented by African fish-eagle and Western Osprey which are often seen soaring over the estuary in search of an unsuspecting fish. Sand and mud flats in the mouth area host large numbers of waders in the summer months, often including Kittliz's plover, Common ringed plover, Three-banded plover, White-fronted plover, Grey plover, Little stint, Curlew Sandpiper, Common sandpiper, Common greenshank, Ruff , Ruddy turnstone, Terek sandpiper and Bar-tailed godwit. Tern roosts in the mouth area often include Common tern, Lesser crested tern, Sandwich tern, Greater crested (Swift) tern, Little tern, Caspian tern and Sooty tern. Sand martin and Blue-cheeked bee-eater are often seen hawking insects overhead. The surf zone is home to flocks of Sanderling , Grey-headed gull and the occasional Black oystercatcher whilst Cape gannet and White-chinned petrel can often be seen flying just behind the waves. The mouth area has produced many rare vagrants over the last number of years such as Eurasian oystercatcher, Gull-billed tern, Franklins gull, Lesser frigatebird, Sooty gull, Parasitic jaeger, Saunders's tern, Damara tern and Crab plover and there is always the chance that you may find another! More recently (January 2023)-three African skimmer also turned up at the estuary mouth. This walk covers easy walking terrain.
